Trick toy



J.LEARY TRICK TOY Filed August 25 .1925

Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

UNlTEfi STATES T @FFHQE.

TRICK TOY.

Application filed August 25, 1925. Serial No. 52,275.

My invention relates to toys, and more particularly to trick toys.

The objects are to provide a toy with which tricks, amusing to the old as well as the young, may be performed without requiring skill of the performer, and with which movements may be easily produced by a child which make the toy appear as a sin gle member at one time and as a group of similar members at another time.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toy made in accordance with my invention showing it in closed position,

Figure 2 a like view showing the toy in open position,

Figure 3 a vertical section through the toy shown in Figure 1,

Figure 4 an enlarged fragmentary section of the toy shown in Figure 3, and

Figure 5 a fragmentary section on line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 indicate a pair of semi-spherical hollow sections, made of celluloid or other light material, 3 a hinge connecting the sections, 4 a spherical member disposed within the semi-spherical sections when in closed position. and 5 a string, preferably elastic, connected to spherical member 4 and passing through a cutout 6 in section 1.

The semi-spherical sections have strips 7 extending from their edges which are looped and secured within the sections to form loops 8. Section 1 has two loops and section 2 one loop which fits between the two loops. A pin 9 passes through the loops and connects them, thus forming the hinge 3. The edges of the sections are cut away, as indicated at 10, to prevent frictional binding between the edges of the sections and the loops when the sections are swung on the hinge.

The spherical member 4 is preferably I made hollow for lightness and has one end of the elastic string 5 passing therein and knotted, as shown at 11, to prevent the end from slipping out. The string passes out from between the semi-spherical sections through the cut-out part 6. The free end of the string is held by the user of the toy to produce movements of sections 1 and 2 and the spherical member 4 as shown in Figure 2.

When the toy is suspended by the elastic string and vibrated up and down to cause the semi-spherical sections to swing apart from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2, the toy appears as a single ball at one time and as three balls at another time. The opening and closing movement of the sections is practically unnoticeable.

Tricks are performed by holding the clastic string out of sight in the palm of the hand, and the toy in closed position between the thumb and forefinger with the forefinger on the hinge. The rear spherical section is then quickly swung on hinge 3 by the middle finger to a position where it appears to be held between the forefinger and the middle finger. This movement of the rear section appears as though it was a ball caught out of air. The sphere within the front section is then swung on the elastic string 5 to one side of the sections and appears as though another ball was caught out of air. If the rear section and the sphere are quickly brought into View at the same time, it appears as though two balls were taken from the air and caught between the fingers. The toy may be held in other ways, in performing this trick with equally good results.

I have shown the essential elements of the toy as being of spherical and semi-spherical shape, but these elements may be of other shapes, such as imitations of different objects, without sacrificing any of the amusing features.

- While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a toy of the character described, two semi-spherical sections connected by a hinge, a hollow spherical member enclosed by the semi-spherical sections and a string attached to the spherical member and passing through the hinge.

2. A toy comprising a hollow member enclosed by a sectional outer niember'having loops formed at its inner edges, a pin through the loops to form a hinge, an elastic cord attached to the hollow member and a notch cut in a section of the outer member to provide clearance for the hinge and the cord.

3. The herein described toy comprising a hollow ball, made of celluloid or the like, and having an elastic cord attached thereto;

two semi-spherical sections, of similar material, adapted to fit over the ball; hinged parts formed integral with the sections; the sections connected by e pinmounted in the hinged parts and a notch cut in one of the sections to provide clearance for the hinge and the cord.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN LEARY. 

